EsL ‘dAMAGe’

ONE of Manchester United’s biggest backers has criticised the club for inflicting “reputational damage” in the wake of last month’s foiled European Super League plan.

Nick Train, who manages the UK Equity Fund Lindsell Train, expressed alarm in meetings with representatives of the controlling Glazer family as discontent over the proposals rumbles on. Lindsell Train owns 27 percent of United’s New York-listed Class A shares, comprising around seven percent of the club.

Train wrote in his monthly report to investors: “The announcement of the breakaway European Super League (“ESL”) in April came as a surprise to us.

“We expressed our disappointment about the reputational damage.”